Free Beginnings -Guardians of Vesturon [0.50] by A.M. Hargrove

Chapter 1
    I was in my second month at the Academy for Guardians. My best friend, Voldruk Monteveldo, and I were sitting in the cafeteria, eating our dinner.
    “How was your hand-to-hand combat training today, my liege?” Voldruk asked, in his usual sarcastic manner.
    “Cut it, Voldruk. If you want me to converse with you, stop with the ‘my liege’ crap. You know how I hate that,” I said as I rolled my eyes.
    “Sooorrryy! What has you in such a dither today?” Voldruk leaned in as if I were getting ready to share some super secret information.
    “You. I was fine until you tried to provoke me.”
    “I would never do that,” Voldruk insisted.
    “Oh yes. Like I believe that! You haven’t earned your reputation as a scoundrel without good reason.” My eyes narrowed with suspicion.
    His sophomoric behavior could be so exasperating on one hand, but on the other, he always had my back. I knew how important it was to have a friend such as he. As First-Born, I was usually the target of those with not so honorable intentions.
    My father was the Great Ruler of the planet Vesturon. Vesturon was one of the greatest powers in the universe, and I stood to inherit his position. This fact had been drilled into me from a very early age. Every move of mine was scrutinized, not only by my father, but also by the Council of Elders, the ruling contingency of Vesturon. The importance of having a loyal friend did not go unappreciated.
    “So, Rowan, I was thinking about where we should try to be assigned after we complete our training. I hear the females on Delgas are enticing.”
    “Voldruk, is there nothing else in that wee brain of yours besides your lascivious thoughts?”
    “I didn’t know there was anything else out there besides the lovely lasses,” he responded. “Take for instance, that kitchen maid,” he stated, flicking his head to the right.
    My eyes followed his gesture and when they landed on the object of his statement, I bristled.
    “Stop it this instant,” I hissed before I realized what had burst from my mouth.
    “Well, well, well. What have we here, Rowan? Is it possible? A female finally capturing your interest? She is quite fetching, I’ll admit.”
    I shook my head, not wanting this discussion to continue. Now that I had brought his attention upon me, he would be relentless in interrogating me.
    “Come, come, tell Voldruk everything,” he said, annoying me further.
    I gave him a disdainful look and refused to answer.
    “Shall I call her over here?”
    “No! Now stop it this instant,” I snapped. “I mean it, Vodruk. This is not up for discussion!”
    “Seriously, Rowan? If you think I will let this go, then you really have no concept of my persistence.”
    “It is not persistence, Voldruk. It is annoyance!”
    That gave rise to a chuckle. I threw a dubious look his way and broke into a laugh as well.
    I stood up saying, “I have to go. I have things I must attend to and I must meet my father in an hour’s time.”
    “This is not over, Rowan,” he replied, wagging his finger at me. “You have escaped from me this time, but I will not give up on finding out this secret you insist upon hiding.”
    When I reached my quarters, I pondered over what Voldruk said. There was definitely something about the blond female that more than appealed to me. Every time I looked at her, I felt a warmth spread throughout my body. I had not spoken a single word to her, and yet, I could not deny this unusual attachment I felt.
    Being the son of the Great Leader, I was used to females throwing themselves at me. I suppose I was attractive enough. I was often told I had pleasing features—black hair and green eyes. I was quite tall and strong in my physique. I did not care much about this though. It made me quite uncomfortable to discuss it. The blond beauty didn’t seem to notice, as she never spared me a glance. I was fine with that as it gave me ample opportunity to inspect her, whom I found to be quite